The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-08-11
A MODEL MILLIONAIRE.
The Story OF an Old BeRgaFs
Wedding Present.

manent income than 10 be fascinating.
These are the great truths Of modern
life which Hughie Erskins never
realized Poor Hughei Intellectual
". We must admit, he was not Of much
Importance. He never said either q
brilliant or an ill-natured thing In his
life. But then he was wonderfully
goOd-lOoking with his crisp brown
hair. his elear-cut profile. and his gray
eyes BE was as popular with men as
be was with women. and he had every
accomplishment except that Of making
money. His father had bequesthed
him his cavalry sword and & History
OF the Peninsular war" In fifteen
volumes. Hughie hung the first over
his looking-glsss. put the second on =
shelf between "Rnf Guide" and
''Baly's Magazine" and lived on
two hundred a year that an
old aunt allowed hiu. He hsd tried
every thing. He had gone on the
Stock Exchange for six months; but
what was butterfly to do among bulls
and bearsP h had heen y tea mer-
chant for 4 Httle longer. but had soon
tired of Pekoe and Souchong. Then
be had tried selling dry sherry. That
did not answer Ultimately he be-
came nothing. q delightful. Intellectual
young mau, with a perfect profile and
no profession
To make matters worse he wss in
love. Tire girl he loved was Laura
Merton. the daughter Of q retired
Colonel who had lost his temper and
his digestion in India, aud had never
found either Of them again. Laura
adored him. and he WAS ready to kiss
her shOestTings They were the hand
soonest couple in London. and had not
q psnny-picce among them The
Colonel WAS very fond Of Hnghie. but
would not near Of any engagement
Come to me. my boy, when yOn
have got 10000 Of your own. and we
will see about it. he used to say; and
Hnghie looked veiy glum on those
days, aud had to 90 10 Laura for eon-
ISOLATION.
One morning. as he was on his way
e. Holland Park. where the Mertons
lived. he dropped in 10 see a great
friend If his. Alan Trevor. Trevor was
. painter Indeed. few people escape
that nowadays. But he was also an
artist, aud artists are rather rare. Per-
sOnally. he was a strange. rough fell
low, with freckled face and red hair.
However. when he took mp the brush
he was a real master. and his pictures
were eagerly sought after He bad
been very much attracted by Hnghie.
At first It must b. acknowledged. en-
tirely on account Of his good looks
THE only people n painter should
know" he used 10 say. ''are people
who are bets and beautiful. people who
are an artistic pleasure to look at and
an intellectual repOse 10 talktO. Dam
dies and darlings rule the woridr
However. after he got to know Hughie
better. he liked him quite rs much for
his bright. buoyant spirits and his
generous reckless nature. aud had
given him the permanent e,iiree 10 his
studio.
When Hughie came In he found
Trevor putting the finishing touches 20
8 wonderful life-size picture of beg
gar man. The beggar himself was
standing on a raised platform IN q
| corner OF the sulio he was a wizened
old man. with a face like a wriHkled
parchment and a most piteOus eX-
| preston. Over his shoulders was flung
a coarse brown cloak. all tears and tat
tiers; his thick boots were patched and
cobbled. and with one hand he leaned
on rough stick. while with the other
he held out his battered hat for aims
what an amazing mOdelT' wills
pered Hughie, rs be sho"k hands with
his friend
AN amazing molelg" shouted Ire
vor At the top Of his voice; Il should
think sol Such beggars as he sre act
20 Be met with every d7y. A iroaUatde.
mon cher; a living Veiusquezi Ny
starsl what an etching Rembrandt
would have made Of himi'
..Poor old chapr' said Hughie chow
missrabls he looksl But 1 suppose. g
ron psluters, ais face is his fortuneF'
'4C-rtainiy." replied Trevor; you
don't want 3 beggar to look happy. do
you!"
How much does = model get for sit
tng9" asked Hughie. as be found him
sslf comfortable seat on divsa-
"A shilling an hour"
"And how much do yon get for your
picture, Alane'
%. for this get a thousand"
.PuundsP'
.Guineas Painters poets and
physicians always RSt 0uineas
..WelL I thiuK me model should
have a percentage. said Hughie
laughing; .they work quite IS hard
IS yOu do.
Nonsense. nonsense! Why. lool
At the trouble Of laying on the pain
alone. and standing all day long 81
ones easeli It's all very well. Hughie,
for you 70 talk. but assure you that
there are moments when art aP
breaches the dignity II manual labor.
But you mustn't chatter; Tn veTI
busy. Smoke a cigarette. and keel
quiet"
After some time the servant eams
In. and told Trevor that the frame
maker wanted to speak to him
s.Dou't run away. Hughie. y he said
= as he went out i viii be back In
moment"
The old beggar man took advauiag
Of TreyOr's absence % rest tor
moment on = wooden bench thar va
behind him. he looked 90 foriorI
and wretched that Hughie could no
help plying him. and he felt in b
pockets to see Whist money he had
All he could End was q sovereign
and some copper poor old fellow,
Z be thought % himself '.he wants
I more tkan do. bat &c means No han
SOM fox q fortnieht" and he valke'
arRrra. ~ algale 80 sliRne =